Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-02-04
fDnTl-NIsTh CUNGRESs.
Second Session.
sen ATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3

WASHINGTON, Feb. s.
Mr. Evsrts introduced a bill tor the pur
chase of John Ericson's DESTROYER, and ter
enlarged steel vessels of the same type TO!
defending the harbors Of the United States
referred to the committee on naval affairs
resolution offered last session BY Mr.
ingalls, to discharge the committee GU pen
sions from further consideration of the bill
removing the Limitation on applications fol-
arrears Of pensions vas agreed to-yeas 27
nays 26.
Mr.. Ingalls, W ill call up the bill for actor
next week
The Senate then proceeded to the consid
Grafton OF the bill to prohibit members Of
Congress from acting as attorneys or EN-.
ployees tor subsidized railroad companies.
Mr.. Evarts addressed the Senate in opposi
tion to the bill, and in favor of the amend
ment proposed TO be offered as a substitute to
the bill by the senator from Delaware (Mr
salisbury
The substitute made it unlawful for any
member to accept employment as attorney OF
tn receive payment for services as such coun-
sci or attorney from subsidized railroad com
psnles. with proylso that it shall not be
construed to prevent members of Congress
from appearing as such counsel in Stale or
federal courts in suits in which the United
States is not party. He argued that the
proposed Legislation was uncaled for. Ii
was unprecedented. The onlv reason he had
heard given for it was that given by the SEN
ator from Arkansas Mr., Berry, that there
was in the public mind in regard to the mat
ter "a restless dissatisfaction and a vague
fear" No law had ever yet been based on
any such ground 1t must be a substantial
dissatisfaction, sincere thought and a sensible
fear. Besides being entirely uncalled for
and entirely unprecedented the bill was en-
tirely illusory. No sensible man in or out
of Congress feared there was a tendency to
corruption in relation of attorneys and eli
ents as between the members of Congress
and these railroad corporations. Those law
yers in the Senate who would vote tor the
bill would make an imputation against their
profession; that lawyers were a class to be
taken out from the rest of thu community
separated from other members and precluded
from honorable and innocent conduct for fear
they might he drawn over the line of duty.
The right of citizens was not to be invaded
because honest employment might lead to
criminality. 1t had been argued that by be-
ing paid salaries the members should be sat
isfied. This bill only applied to employ
ment by railroad companies, but did railroad
retainers, he asked, draw senators away from
the chamber any more than other retainers
In order to be consistent they should pass a
law forbidding members of Congress from
taking any fee, but nobody thought of pre-
posing anything of that kind and this bill was
not of that nature.
MIR. Evarts concluded his speech at 4 Is,
and then on motion of MIR. Hoar the Senate
went into secret session.
At 4 45 the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
| The legislative executive and judicial ap-
preparation bill was reported and referred to
the committee of the whole.
Mr.. Tucker of Virginia, from the commi l.
tee on the Judiciary, reported back the Sen
ate bill extendir the time for filing French
spoliation claims; house calendar.
Mr.. Rogers of Arkansas, from the same
committee. reported adversely the bill to
enable people to name their postmasters
laid on the table.
Mr.. Oates of Alabama, on behalf Of the
committee on revision of laws, called up the
bill authorizing the appointment and pre-
scrIbing the compensation Of clerks to senat-
ors and representatives who are not of COM
mittees.
After some debate Mr.. Eden of Illinois
moved to lay the bill on the tables agreed to
-l4l to l05.
The House then went into committee of
the whole on the pleuro- pneumonia BILL the
pending amendment being the one offered
by Mr.. Cutcheon of Michigan. proviiing that
experts aud agents to be appointed in pnrsu
ance Of this act shall be appointed under
civil service rules.
After a couple of hours had been consumed
| in an effort to limit the debate on the bill,
MIR. Swnburne of New York offered AT
amendment striking out the ptovision for the
| destruction of diseased animals and inserting
IN lieu thereof a provision that such animals
shall be ouarsnteened and killed il 1t be
| deemed necessary for scientific investigation
by scientific experts; agreed to-97 to 13-
MIR. Butterworth of Onio offered an amend
ment reducing from three-quarters to one
| half Of the value of the animal when sound
as the compensation hlch may be allowed tc
owners for animals slaughtered under the
provisions of this act; agreed to-ll0 to So
Without concluding the consideration o.
the bill the committee rose and the House a
455 adjourned.